ATTF top leader from Bangladesh surrenders to BSF in Tripura

Khasiamangal (West Tripura), May 28 (ANI): A top militant leader of the banned All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) laid down his arms before the Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday here.

Sailendra Debbarma alias Judhiya decamped from a base at Niralapunji, which is under the jurisdiction of the Srimangal police station in Moulavibazar of Bangladesh and deposited an AK-47 rifle, a 9mm pistol, four magazines and more than 100 live cartridges with BSF DIG S S Chaatrath.

Sailendra who joined militancy 15 years back and held the 5th senior most position in the ATTF, said: "The ATTF has relation with other northeastern Indian militant groups like ULFA, UNLF, KLO, PLA and the banned militant force of Assam ULFA has been helping us in arms training."

The surrendered militant also informed that, "Now in Tripura we can not move freely and so is in dearth of finance (as can not collect subscription or ransom) but in Bangladesh we can move freely still today."

He informed that they had initially joined militancy to fight for a separate tribal homeland, but on realizing that it is baseless, they decided to return to the main stream.

The vast differences between the lavish lifestyle of their leaders and the hard jungle life of workers was one of the prime factors of infighting in the outfits.

All cadres have been trained in the use of the latest arms and ammunitions at their training camps spread through out the neighbouring Bangladesh, which surrounds Tripura from three sides, from where they operate, he informed.

The IG BSF said that at present a large part of Tripura's border with Bangladesh, where the militants have their base camp, have been fenced and so no more the militant's can shuttle across the border freely. Hence they can not operate in Tripura and this is one of the prime causes behind the surrender.

He added that at a very young age, these boys had joined militancy with the dream of independent Tripura. But after five years of hard jungle life, they realized the futility of the violence. By Pinaki Das (ANI)